Backup is the process of making copies of computer data so that in the event of a data loss it could be used to restore the originals. If you use computers then most probably you may have experienced data loss, the most common cause being human error. Backups also help you recover data from an earlier time or even a specific version of your file.

There are many ways of backing up your data; both manual and automated. It could range from simply copying all your files to an external USB or hard drive to the most advanced could-based continuous protection. Earlier only large companies could afford high-end data protection owing to the cost and complexity. Today you could leverage the best data protection at a fraction of that cost.

The best backup option for home and SMB users are online backup that automatically keeps taking copies of your data and keeps it encrypted and safe in a remote data center. These data centers are typically huge clusters of servers where some leverage the power of cloud computing.

A subscription-based service such as Vaulten could help you with the most advanced data protection at just $9.99 per month. Backing up data is a one-time and simple setup process:

1. Download the free online backup software from the Vaulten website.
2. Install and select the files, folders or sections of your computer that you wish to backup.
3. Start by saving your backup selection and pay only for the size of data backed up.

You never need to remember to backup your computer data ever. Your data is always protected, at home, in office and on the go. So now you know what is backup and how to backup.

Hence it’s not only important to have an online backup installed on your computer, but also is equally important to have the right one.  So which one is the right product?  There are dozens of them out there.  Recently we’ve also seen leading companies fail with their unlimited storage model and others going down with their servers.  Always ensure your backup product allows you to keep a secure local copy at your preferred destination.

Imagine you install a product thinking all your data is secure to only realize later that the files you wish to recover either doesn’t exist or are corrupted.  A quick search for online backup shows a bunch of companies with great reviews that are probably fabricated.

We are proud that Vaulten has been providing premium online backup since 2007.  Vaulten’s new release is probably the best online backup product out there for businesses and individuals. And there is an easy way to get a piece of this for free. Yes you can get 10 GB of online storage on the Vaulten cloud network for free.  All you need to do is get your friends to signup.

Once you download the free trial available at http://vaulten.com you create a username and password post installation of the software. Then go back to the site and sign in using these details to access the referrals section.  Here you will get your unique URL using which if someone signs up you get your free storage.  Isn’t that neat and great?

You can always buy more storage if you need to but I guess 10 GB is pretty good for all important documents. That is if you don’t consider your 1 TB movie collection important.

We’ve been listening to our customers using previous versions of Vaulten and working on fulfilling some gaps and user requests… well most. The objective: make the product simple enough for a novice user with built in complexity for advanced users as well. Even though we have an advanced CDP technology that automatically detects changes in files and backs it up, some users insisted that they wanted a scheduling option so that they can backup during certain times - fine we said. Others wanted the option to have a copy of the file stored locally (encrypted and with option to chose the location such as a local server) - fine we said.  Some wanted a free ticket to Disney Land - we’re still working on this one though.

The list goes on and users wanted more but without paying more, obviously. So we kept the price for the starting plan same at $9.99 per month and increased the storage from 3 GB to not 10 or even 50 GB, but a whopping 100 GB of cloud storage.

Other next-gen features include deduplication which was requested by many enterprise users. So now you not only get the best value for your money in this industry, but also a lot of savings: up to 95% savings on storage and 12 times faster in terms of data transfers, thanks to the compression technology that we have in place along with deduplication. Among other newer features included are file sync between multiple computers and secure sharing with clients and colleagues. With Vaulten 2.0 it’s more than just online backup. And yes, even though we’ve packed all these you still pay the same price.

Still waiting? Try Vaulten 2.0 now.

Imagine the plight of businesses until now where they not only had to take scheduled tape backups, but an employee had to mostly take the tapes/disks home. The setting up had also been challenging for many SMBs, as it required a multifaceted infrastructure of backup software, networks, servers, disk arrays and tape systems. Many companies had trouble simply completing backups in the allotted time and a significant number of backups failed or completed with errors.

Now businesses have the choice of not investing on their own backup infrastructure, which is an added advantage in the current economy. They can entirely avoid the complications that come with adding elements such as backup media (tapes or disks), devices (tape drives), storage systems etc. All they need is an internet connection and they are up and running with a backup process in place.

The challenge has now shifted to finding the right backup SaaS company, where businesses can not only their trust their data with, but also get the high security and reliability that they need for their crucial data.

Vaulten, with the right partnerships, aims to be a leader in Backup SaaS for SMBs. More information on Backup Software as a Service can be found at http://www.vaulten.com/saas.

Online storage service offers space on a per-gigabyte basis, and sometimes includes a bandwidth cost component as well. Some companies do offer the service for free, relying on advertising revenue, but they are soon realizing that this doesn’t work.

Some of the distinguishable features of true Online Backup from Online Storage are the following:

Automation: Files are automatically transmitted, without user interruption to the online server.
In Vaulten Online Backup’s case, CDP – Continuous Data Protection technology ensures your data is backed the moment it is created or changed.

Encryption: Data is stored highly encrypted on the online server.
When you use Vaulten, data is not only stored encrypted on the online server, but encrypted before and during transmission to the online server as well.

File Versioning: Multiple versions of file are stored based on its change history.
For e.g. with Vaulten, whenever you change an office document, the changed files are stored separately. This way users not only cover compliance requirements, but also can go back and retrieve any version of the file (remember this does not increase your storage requirement proportionately).

To sum it up, online storage can be treated as an extension to your local drive and you just use it like that. On the other hand, online backup is designed for securing data automatically for retrieval and compliance purposes.

And that was my inspiration to start Vaulten Online Backup. I went through different online backup services available in the market and realized that there are gaps; primarily the trust factor, but I have already covered that here.

Let me quickly tell you how automated backup, like Vaulten can save your life…

It’s completely automated
Once Vaulten is installed, you don’t even have to lift a finger. Files are backed as it is created or changed. You can always optionally configure which files or section of your PC you want to be backed.

The program though working in the background never slows down your PC or internet connection. And when it backs up changes in files, it only backs the difference.

Data is stored offsite
All your data that you choose to be secured are backed up offsite to a highly secure data center. From here it is then stored in multiple, geographically segregated servers.

No more tape drives, CDs or USB drives that not only has high chances of getting compromised by fire, natural disasters etc., but also a higher chance of damage.

Recovery is on-demand
If you ever lose your data or have the need to restore any file, then recovery is just at your fingertip.  With Vaulten, you simply open the program and click on ‘Restore’, from where you just browse through and select the file(s) that need to be restored.

No CDs, tape drives and restoring complete batches. Here you may treat online backup as a secure drive available to you.

Vaulten’s aim is to provide completely automated, secure online backup to small business and individuals who earlier could not avail such a service owing its complexity and cost. But with little investment and a trusted technology partner like Vaulten and IBM, the risk can be quite small. The risk of doing nothing or operating with insufficient backup coverage, on the other hand, is much greater.

I would say this applies to everyone who is looking for an online backup solution. You need to ask yourself on how valuable your digital assets are, and then ensure the most valuables are stored in the safest location.

With Vaulten you can always manage this from your computer by clicking the ‘Backup’ button, from where you can select the files you want to backup and leave the ones you do not wish to backup. Remember when you backup your files to any provider including Vaulten; you not only have to look into the space you wish to utilize, but also the bandwidth usage. To backup 150GB of space you may need weeks, depending on your internet speed and watch out if you are paying for additional GB usage to your internet provider.

After all it only makes sense to pay for securing your files if it’s valuable to you.

Let me take you back to the era when there was this army of online storage companies, all trying to support their services through advertising. They failed miserably because, as Om Malik pointed out in his blog: http://gigaom.com/2008/08/06/how-to-stand-out-in-a-sea-of-storage-startups

“In order to make a decent amount money off advertising, these startups need to generate hundreds of millions of page views, unlikely unless they allow people to share large files, which can often lead to a legal mess.“

If you are doing too many things you are not doing one thing right. An example would be of Amazon S3, which may be the only online storage company that makes sense, as they actually charge for storage.

There is no denying that paid online backup is growing with leaders enjoying double-digit month-over-month revenue growth. And investors and corporations are paying good money for companies in this space; EMC paid $63M for Mozy, Symantec paid $123M for Swapdrive, and recently Hitachi has agreed to acquire Fabrik Inc, to name a few.

Online backup, as opposed to online storage, is a great subscription business. And in this industry you get what you pay for.

Sounds good! So if my data is encrypted while being sent to offsite servers then it is safe? The answer would be ‘No’. What you need to check is three things:

1. Encryption before transmission,
2. Encryption during transmission and
3. Encryption after transmission

Many online backup services don’t provide even one of the above. This is very critical for the safety of your crucial files.

Vaulten uses high-level technology to safeguard data before, during and after transmission: 128-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, which is used by banks and online trading and financial companies to transmit highly confidential information, helps ensure that data is protected at all times.

See this and more details on how Vaulten is so secure, at our website: http://www.vaulten.com/IBMsecurity

Well to me it looks like these estimates are being outpaced quickly, but that’s another story. The reason this topic came to my mind is because they had mentioned another important factor in their study:

“Year-over-year growth will slow beginning in 2010, as services practices begin to standardize, pricing competition has an impact, the supplier community consolidates, and in some cases online backup becomes a built-in feature in other online/Web-based services offerings.”

I doubt this. Millions of newer computers keep coming and with the death of tape drive now inevitable, the growth of online backup may continue for another couple of years more than predicted by IDC.

And yes, it may eventually become part of other services such as anti-virus or a bundled suite from your ISP.